Cycling broadcasting legend Phil Liggett has announced that this will be his last time commentating the Olympic Games. Phil has commentated on an amazing 17 Olympic Games and 52 Tour de Frances and has been the voice of cycling for cycling fans over the decades.
In an interview with Australia’s Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports Phil said the reason this would be his last time commentating the Olympic Games was, “Just the fact that another four years from now I’ll be 85 and I think that’s too old to spoil the viewers fun. But oh boy, I’ll miss it.” Phil will turn 81 this Sunday on August 11th on the final day that the 2024 Olympics Games close in Paris, France.
Phil stated, “I’m not invincible and I don’t want as I say to bore everybody. I shall miss it desperately because I love success and there are moments when I do look quite young. It’s hard to remember being young you know these are the days when I worked around the world and with some of the most famous people and for example last week I spent a long time on the telephone with Ben Stiller who was a great actor. Robin Williams was a great friend of mine, the comedian, and they all have one thing in common – it’s the bicycle. They just love the bike and I told stories. That was what I wanted to do. I always used to say to people who started to work with me for the first time, I said look you’ve got to stop the old lady going to make a cup of tea til the adverts come on. If you succeed doing that then you’re selling your sport. The experts know what I’m talking about, but it’s the old lady who doesn’t.”
US cycling fans were lucky to enjoy Phil Liggett’s commentating along with his longtime commentating partner Paul Sherwin at many of the United States major pro cycling events including the Amgen Tour of California and USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado. Sadly Paul passed away from congestive heart failure at the age of 62 in 2018.
Paul Sherwen (left) and Phil Liggett in action.
We appreciate Phil’s knowledge of the sport and listening to his poetry in motion while enhancing the world’s best cycling events for cycling fans watching the race coverage. Hopefully, we will be blessed with Phil’s commentating of the Tour de France for a few more years as he transitions into retirement.
Watch Video – Phil Liggett Announces His Retirement from Commentating the Olympic Games
